8/10

What would it feel like to get rid of all negative emotions? Angie Spoto tries to tackle this question, and the answer that the reader gets is not only a magnetic, gothic horror, but also an intriguing "character study" of sort in a world with dark motifs and the use of emotions as a basis for the class structure of society.

Dread, Grief and Sorrow manifest themselves in a spiritual form, different for each person, that is being absorbed by the titular "grief nurses". Emotions pushed into non-existence, bubble under the surface - called with a capital letter they gain almost equal status to the people who feel them. Treated with distance and a kind of respect, in contrast to those who "fight" them - Nurses are considered a status marker, objects or almost drugs passed from hand to hand for convenience and political gain. We learn about the brutal realities through Lynx, who, by her birth, has to deal with exploitation, loneliness and persecution, and the crumbs of hope and happiness she manages to find at times, disappear under the weight of other people's emotions.

The plot starts inconspicuously with a wake for a member of an aristocratic family on an isolated island. The events unfold slowly, like in an intimate theatre play. Through dialogues and flashbacks, we meet subsequent characters and discover the sequence of events leading to the present moment. However, the whole thing quickly gains momentum, an unexpected element of danger appears, and intrigues and unclear motivations reveal their dark side. Paradoxically, for me this change of pace was a slight downside, and the "epic ending" took away some of the charm of the whole thing. As a result, something that could have been amazing, in the end is "only" very good.

This book has so much potential. The concept is intriguing and the writing good but unfortunately it misses the mark. Many places throughout the book I was confused on what was happening, what day it was, and who we were talking about because there was so little background information. However, I believe that with a lot more worldbuilding and a more drawn out timeline that this concept could be amazing!

Thank you Independent Publishers Group for my ARC of The Grief Nurse!

Based on the description, I l was excited about the dystopian concept of the elite wealthy using grief nurses to avoid experiencing grief themselves. I was entertained by this book from the first chapter. I felt Lynx was a very likeable character and I enjoyed how she saw everyone's grief in a different way. I did feel like the story lost steam in the middle for a bit and I was unsure how the ending would go/what the main problem would be but the final 1/4 of the book pulled me right back in. Spoto did a great job at developing characters and I felt that I was attached to certain ones throughout the story. Overall, this was a great and entertaining read. 4/5 stars

I enjoyed this debut dystopian novel. A new genre for me. The author did an amazing job creating a world of fantasy, mystery and romance in a very classist society. There was so much emphasis on using all the senses to create the atmosphere, which I thought was executed really well. The author explored grief in such a way that it felt intimate, and personified it allowing it to take on a life of it's own. Overall a really good read.
Thank you for this ARC.

Based on the blurb, going into this I assumed it would be magical realism, but it was definitely more fantasy mixed with locked room mystery, and a touch of gothic?

The setting was described really vividly, which I loved, but I felt there were parts of the story that were a bit lacking. For example, the Grief Nurses' are fully fleshed out, we know who they are, the unique way they look, what their jobs are and why they do them/how them doing their jobs affects people. The Faders we get little to no information on, I have no idea why they're called that, what they do, and why it's not ideal to be one, just that it's not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the digital ARC! All opinions are my own :)

Very emotional and heart wrenching beautifully written novel! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc!

Going through all stages of grief is painful and different for everyone. But would you have someone take away that pain if it was offered to you? This book had me question that but this is what makes us human. You can't feel the best feelings without the worst of them. Having a grief nurse is only available to the upper class. But does it make that part of society special ? The mystery and dynamics between the characters often felt detached for me. Overall I enjoyed this story and what it truly represents and that is to welcome all the ways to live the human experience.

Angie Spoto's "The Grief Nurse" is a haunting and beautifully crafted debut that lingers long after the final page. The premise itself is captivating: Lynx, a "Grief Nurse," possesses the extraordinary ability to absorb and transform the negative emotions of others, serving the wealthy and emotionally fragile Aster family. Spoto paints a vivid picture of Lynx's isolated existence within the Asters' opulent Scottish manor, a gilded cage where she is both valued and confined.

The arrival of grief, brought on by the death of the Asters' eldest son, shatters the fragile equilibrium of their world. As guests descend upon the island, bringing their own baggage of secrets and sorrow, the atmosphere simmers with tension and suspicion. Spoto masterfully builds suspense, transforming the elegant setting into a gothic landscape of jealousy, hatred, and tragedy.

What truly resonated with me, beyond the captivating plot and atmospheric setting, was the way "The Grief Nurse" prompted introspection about my own relationship with grief. Lynx's unique ability forces the reader to confront the very nature of sadness and loss. The book explores the idea of whether it's truly beneficial to eradicate grief entirely, or if it plays an essential role in the human experience. It made me consider how we often try to suppress or avoid difficult emotions, rather than processing them.

Spoto's writing is evocative and lyrical, creating a world that feels both fantastical and deeply human. The characters are complex and flawed, each grappling with their own pain and desires. The subtle reimagining of 1920s Scotland adds a layer of historical richness to the narrative, enhancing the sense of timelessness and isolation.

"The Grief Nurse" is more than just a gothic thriller; it's a poignant exploration of grief, power, and the human capacity for both love and cruelty. It's a book that will stay with you, prompting you to reflect on your own emotional landscape. Angie Spoto has delivered a truly remarkable debut, and I eagerly await her future work.

I really really wanted to like this book. I love the concept of the book and I think the magic system just could’ve been more expanded upon while I was a couple chapters into the book. I was still confused over how the actual system worked if grief was bringing pleasure to the grief nurse or not and again this could just be a reading problem on my part, but I didn’t seem to grasp for the concept. I found myself confused sometimes whether we were in the present or if she was talking about something that had previously happened. This could obviously just be a fault on my part, but I loved receiving the arc and I just wanted to love it and I didn’t.

📖 My Thoughts On: The Grief Nurse by Angie Spoto 📖
An easy 4✨ for me, I really loved this book!
The strong female lead, the commentary on the rich vs the poor, the LGB representation, the mental health representation, the romances, the murder mystery! Just so good.

Imagine a world where grief is not just an emotion to bear but a burden that can be lifted, siphoned away like a poison drawn from the wound of loss. but what if someone could take it away? what if your pain, your fear, your heartbreak could be lifted, leaving you weightless, untouched by sadness? would you let them?

Lynx doesn’t get a choice.

as a Grief Nurse, she was never meant to live for herself. kept like a beautiful, fragile thing in the grand estate of the Asters—a family so powerful, they see emotions as inconveniences rather than truths—her sole purpose is to take away their sorrow, to make sure their hearts never truly break. Lynx is their secret weapon against grief, against guilt, against feeling. but when the eldest son dies, something shifts. the sorrow she’s meant to absorb becomes something darker, tangled in family secrets, whispered betrayals, and the kind of grief even she can’t erase. and when another body falls, it becomes clear: the Aster family is drowning in something deeper than sadness. they’re drowning in the truth.

set on a misty Scottish island in a hauntingly reimagined 1920s, the ambience of this book feels like stepping into a world just slightly askew—where emotions have power, grief is a currency, and love is a quiet rebellion. the gothic atmosphere is breathtaking, the kind of setting that clings to your skin, heavy with sorrow and longing. the writing is lyrical, and filled with aching loneliness.

this book moved me. it's quiet yet devastating, romantic yet heartbreaking, eerie yet painfully human. the LGBTQ+ representation is woven in effortlessly, adding another layer of depth to an already rich, complex story. but there was something just out of reach—something that kept me from loving it as much as I wanted to. maybe it was the way the characters stayed a little too distant, or how the narrative felt like grasping at mist, slipping through my fingers when I wanted to hold on. still, the story seeps into you, much like grief itself—unshakable, unforgettable.

if you love gothic stories filled with slow-burning tension, secrets, and the kind of sadness that makes you feel something deep in your chest, then this is a book worth sinking into. just be prepared: grief doesn’t let go easily. and neither does this story.

thank you Independent Publishers Group for my copy!
the new cover of this book is so beautiful.
make sure you get a copy, it gets re-published May 27, 2025!